Marked by My Scummy Ex-Wife’s Boss (GL) - Chapter 1

Morning Light

Golden morning sunlight streamed through the glass windows of the laboratory.

Bathed in that warm glow, Song Zhen held a dropper with steady hands and carefully let the final drop of reagent fall into the test tube, completing the last experiment for the morning.

As she set the dropper down, both a bouquet of flowers from her colleagues and a message on her phone arrived at nearly the same time.

She had kept her phone close all morning, and now that it finally buzzed, she checked it immediately.

Two WeChat messages had come through:

【Lang: Just landed. I’m back in the country.】

【Lang: Catching a connecting flight now. If all goes well, I’ll be back in Shangjing this afternoon.】

Shangjing—Song Zhen’s current city, and the capital of Huaguo.

She let out a quiet breath of relief. Finally…

Her anxious heart settled. With a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips, she typed a reply:

【Great. Safe travels.】

A cute emoji came back in response, full of reassurance.

Unable to help herself, Song Zhen smiled from the heart.

Ding. A news alert popped up next.

【Shangjing Daily: The A-Class Research Team from the National Institute returns today. Lead scientist Dr. Cheng Lang…】

Before she could click into it, a wave of pink filled her vision.

She looked up to find her good friend and colleague holding a huge bouquet of roses practically in her face.

“Zhenzhen, someone sent you flowers again! Still turning heads, huh?” Her coworker grinned mischievously and winked.

Song Zhen blinked, pulled the card from the bouquet, and sighed. Yep, it was for her.

She recognized the sender. But…

“He’s got the wrong idea,” she said helplessly.

Just then, an intern—an upbeat senior male student who’d recently joined their lab—chimed in cheerfully, “Sister Song is so popular! If we didn’t have keycard access, I bet guys would be lining up outside to deliver flowers every day!”

The woman holding the bouquet joined the teasing, “Exactly! She’s the flower of the lab for a reason!”

“Sister Song is gorgeous and kind—it’s only natural people fall for her.” The intern paused, then teased, “But with so many admirers, has anyone caught your eye?”

Since he’d only been there a short while and mostly ran errands for Song Zhen and the others, he didn’t know her well. The moment the words left his mouth, her colleague Zuo Tian burst out laughing, and Song Zhen just shook her head.

“Did I say something wrong?” the intern asked, clearly confused.

Zuo Tian grinned and gave Song Zhen a meaningful look.

Clearing her throat, Song Zhen said, “No, don’t listen to her teasing. A lot of the flowers are from patients showing thanks. And besides… I’ve been married for a long time.”

The intern was stunned.

Zuo Tian nodded with a smirk. “Yup. Shocking, right? Your Sister Song has been off the market for years. Married young, too. And her partner is…”

She trailed off dramatically, making Song Zhen cough awkwardly.

But Song Zhen was too mild-tempered—one little cough wouldn’t stop them. The intern grew more curious, “Come on, Sister Zuo, don’t keep us in suspense! Is it someone even more impressive than Professor Li?”

Just hearing that name made Song Zhen choke on air.

Because the one who sent today’s roses… was Professor Li—an associate professor at their military medical university.

With flair, Zuo Tian swiped to the newest news notification on her phone and pointed at the bold headline:

【Shangjing Daily: A-Class Research Team Returns…】

“She graduated from our university too. Cheng Lang—ring a bell?”

The intern’s eyes widened. “You mean…”

Zuo Tian nodded, “Yep. The genius who skipped grades, earned her doctorate young, and became the core of a national A-Class research team right after graduation—that Cheng Lang.”

The intern’s jaw practically dropped.

Of course he knew that name. In Shangjing’s research circles, Cheng Lang was legendary.

And from the moment her project was launched, it had drawn nationwide attention.

Zuo Tian wasn’t surprised by his reaction. She scrolled lazily and added, “Oh, and she presented as an Alpha—A-class, at seventeen.”

After humanity’s genetic evolution, primary sexes were divided into Alpha, Beta, and Omega, with traditional gender becoming secondary. AO made up less than 10% of the population, with most people being Beta. But once someone presented as an AO, their mental strength, cognitive skills, and intelligence would soar.

Put simply, AO were today’s natural-born prodigies.

In Huaguo’s military-led society, AO were usually enlisted and entrusted with important state duties, enjoying high social status.

Back in the day, people said studying could change your fate.

Now, whether or not studying works is up for debate—but presenting as AO? That definitely changes lives.

Cheng Lang was an A-class Alpha. The intern knew that. But…

He stared at Song Zhen in disbelief. “But Sister Song, aren’t you a Beta?”

“Yep. AB relationship. True love, huh?” Zuo Tian said with a grin.

“Whoa—”

His admiration for Cheng Lang skyrocketed.

In elite circles, intermarriage among AO families was common. Cheng Lang, as an A-class Alpha with outstanding achievements, could’ve easily married into high society.

Though equality among the three sexes had been advocated for decades, this was the first time the intern had seen a high-ranking AO actually choose a Beta partner.

Everyone talked equality. Cheng Lang lived it.

The intern sighed, genuinely moved. “Sister Song, you really are amazing.”

Zuo Tian beamed. “Of course. Cheng Lang chased her first. And she was the one who proposed too…”

The intern practically turned green with envy. “They really are soulmates.”

“They were the campus power couple back then…”

The more the two chatted, the more excited they became. Song Zhen couldn’t take it anymore and found an excuse to send the intern away.

Knowing Song Zhen wasn’t fond of showing off and was a little shy, Zuo Tian let her off the hook once he was gone.

Then she thought of something. “Oh right, I saw in the news Cheng Lang is back in the country. Will she be in Shangjing today?”

Song Zhen smiled. “Yes.”

“Tsk tsk, look at you glowing. But you two got married and she was sent abroad right after. She’s not leaving again, right?”

“Nope. Her current project will be carried out domestically.”

Zuo Tian smirked knowingly and clicked her tongue. Song Zhen, clearly happy, let her tease.

The lab day passed quietly. But near closing time, the entrance grew unusually noisy.

Group after group of squealing people passed by, until Zuo Tian finally snapped and stormed out to see what was going on.

She left fuming and returned glowing. Grabbing Song Zhen, she squealed, “Zhenzhen! An S-class Alpha showed up outside! She’s so good-looking!”

“That face, that presence, that aura—definitely from an elite family!”

Before Song Zhen could respond, the door opened again. A staff member entered, relieved to see her. “Professor Song, thank goodness you’re still here. We’ve got a report that needs a senior signature. Professor Zhang had to leave—could you…?”

Got it. They just didn’t want to work late and wanted Song Zhen to sign off.

Zuo Tian lit up. “It’s the Alpha I was talking about! Come on, Zhenzhen, say yes! Let me meet her up close!”

Ten minutes later, Song Zhen stood in another department, flipping through the report.

22 years old. S-class Alpha. Female.

The record showed she was formerly stationed abroad. Song Zhen immediately understood—she was likely newly reassigned and just doing a routine check-up at the military medical university before reporting for duty.

The data showed no abnormalities. Song Zhen signed, handed the report to Zuo Tian, and let her deliver it.

Through the door, Song Zhen saw the woman sitting in the hallway, clad in a white military uniform. Straight-backed, she stood the moment she saw Zuo Tian.

Her medium-length hair obscured her face, but the smooth strands cascading to her neck gleamed like satin. She had to be beautiful.

Every gesture was refined, clearly raised in an elite family.

As the soldier took the report and turned to leave, Song Zhen’s gaze unintentionally landed on her shoulder insignia—and froze.

Two bars and a star—Major. For her age, that was an impressive rank.

It reminded her of Cheng Lang’s own insignia. Her lover’s face appeared in her mind, and her gaze softened.

The soldier in the hallway seemed to notice, pausing mid-step. Her eyes turned slightly—

But just then, Song Zhen’s phone rang. She looked down, and the sense of being watched vanished. The soldier turned and walked away without looking back.

________________________________________

At Shangjing Airport, a group of young soldiers disembarked.

Among them was Dr. Cheng Lang—the lead researcher from the day’s headline article—walking at the back of the group.

At her side was a pretty young woman, yawning as she clung to Cheng Lang’s arm like she was half-asleep.

“I’ve been buried in experiments lately. I feel like I’m withering. Let me stay at your place tonight,” she murmured.

Cheng Lang frowned slightly. Before she could speak, the woman teased, “What? Your partner’s coming today?”

Then she leaned in, delicate fingers tugging at Cheng Lang’s collar, lips brushing her ear as she whispered, “My family wants me back tomorrow. If not tonight, it’ll be months before we see each other again. Don’t you miss me?”

The next second, the sweet strawberry scent of an Omega’s pheromones filled the air.

Cheng Lang’s expression shifted. She pushed the woman away. “Control your scent.”

After a moment, she swallowed and said, “I’ll tell her to come tomorrow instead.”

The woman beamed.

________________________________________

Back in the lab, Zuo Tian returned to find Song Zhen looking crestfallen. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Song Zhen tucked her phone away, unable to hide her disappointment. “Cheng Lang said she’ll be busy reporting to the institute late into the night. She’s staying at the apartment near campus and told me not to come.”

“Aww, I thought something serious happened. You haven’t seen her in so long—if you want to go, just go! Surprise her!”

Song Zhen’s eyes lit up. Zuo Tian, seeing she was tempted, waved her hands. “Go, go! If you’re not back tomorrow, I’ll call in for you!”

Song Zhen’s smile deepened, her eyes curving. “Thanks. I owe you.”

It had been two years. She missed Cheng Lang so much.